Process of phosphate ore beneficiation in the presence of residual organic polymeric flocculants

Abstract

Froth flotation of phosphate ore in the presence of residual organic polymeric flocculants is improved in recovery when a collector comprising a fatty acid derived from vegetable or mineral oils and a surface active agent is employed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the froth flotation of phosphate values from an aqueous ore pulp containing about 0.1 to 5 parts per million of residual organic polymer flocculants which comprises: conditioning said ore pulp with from about 0.1 to 5.0 pounds of collector per ton of ore, said collector comprising, in combination, from about 99.0 to 1.0 weight percent of a fatty acid derived from vegetable or animal oils and, correspondingly, from about 1.0 to 99.0 weight percent of a surface active agent wherein the surface active agent is either a partial polycarboxylic acid ester of the general structure: ##STR13## wherein R 2  is a linear or branched radical having from 8 to 23 carbon atoms, inclusive, n is an integer of from 0 to 8 inclusive, p is an integer of from 0 to 8 inclusive, wherein n+p is equal to or greater than (1) and R 1  is a bivalent grouping selected from --CH 2  --m wherein m is an integer of 1 to 6, --CH═CH, ##STR14## --C 6  H 8  --, and C 6  H 10  --, or is a sulfosuccinamate of the general structure: ##STR15## wherein R 2  is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated radical having from 8 to 23 carbon atoms, inclusive, and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium and ammonium and thereafter froth floating the phosphate values. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein from about 0.5 to about 2.0 pounds of collector per ton of ore is employed. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein the collector comprises from about 95.0 to 80.0 weight percent of a fatty acid and, correspondingly, from about 5.0 to 20.0 weight percent of a surface active agent. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid employed in the collector is derived from tall oil. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein the partial polycarboxylic acid ester employed in the collector is one in which R 2  is a linear or branched aliphatic radical having 11 to 15 carbon atoms, inclusive. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein the partial polycarboxylic acid ester employed in the collector is of the structure: ##STR16##